I had a problem with my WMP and my other players like Itunes and Real player, my music files I cant play, as I get a message saying the file you are attempting to play has an extention (.wma) that does not match the file format, is there a way around this? or do I have delete the files and then start again? I uninstalled them and reinstalled all players, but no luck.

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You may have some music on Windows Media Player, and you want to add them into iTunes library for your new iPod or iPhone. Or you may want to move your iTunes bought music to Windows Media Player for portable devices such as Zen, Zune, Phone, Sansa, Archos, MP3/MP4 Player, etc. It’s easy to do that. And this guide will show the steps to do the job.

Part1. Transfer Windows Media Player music to iTunes

Step1. Open iTunes and select the File -- Add Folder to Library menu.

Step2. Browse to your Windows Media Player music folder. iTunes will ask you where your songs are located, which by default will be in your My Music folder on Windows XP, or in your Music folder on Vista.

Step3. Convert Windows Media Player songs to AAC format (.m4a). If you have files in WMA format, you will be prompted to convert those WMA files to AAC. This is a necessary step if you want those tracks available to play on your iPod or iPhone. If you have a large music library in WMA format, converting WMA to AAC may take a long time. Plan to do this at a time when you can leave your computer on and walk away to do something else for awhile. You can also import your WMA files as MP3 instead, which also allows them to work with your iPod, but makes them more portable if you buy something else in the future.

iTunes doesn't modify your original music files from Windows Media Player. It leaves those songs in their original location and makes copies in your iTunes music folder.

Part2. Transfer iTunes music to Windows Media Player

Because iTunes music has DRM protection, you can't easily import the music into Windows Media Player by drag and drop. There are two ways to transfer protected music from iTunes to Windows Media Player.

Method1. You can use iTunes to burn the music to a blank CD at first, then use Windows Media Player to rip the music CD, the DRM protection will be remove during the ripping process, then you can rip the CD into WMP library. This way is good for tranferring a few music. For large mount of music, it would take a really long time to transfer music.

Method2. If you don't have blank CD disk or you have many iTunes music need to transferred to windows media player. You can use DRM Media Converter. It can legally convert the protected iTunes music to non-protected MP3 music, then you can easily drag and drop the MP3 music into Windows Media Player.

Step1. Download and install the DRM Media Converter , the file size is about 7 MB. I have scaned it with Norton Virus protector and AVG spayware protector, it's safe without any warning.

Step2. Run the DRM Media Converter, Click Add to import iTunes music, which by default will be in My Music\iTunes\iTunes Music .Or you can run iTunes, click Edit -- Advanced Tab, there you will see where your iTunes media folder location.

M4P M4A AAC are DRM license Protected music files downloaded or bought from iTunes music store, (DRM - Digital Rights Management is a term used to describe procedures which are taken to prevent unauthorized use of the media in question). And if you have music with DRM purchased from the iTunes store, you will not be able to play them on any other media player, other than Apple's players. Because Apple's DRM copyright protection, doesn't give you the rights to do so. This turns out really bad if you want to buy a new mp3 player which is not manufactured by Apple.

In this way we will describe an easy and fast way about how to remove DRM from iTunes music M4P M4A AAC files to play M4P M4A AAC music files on portable devices like Zune, PSP, Creative Zen, Sony Walkman, Cell Phone, Blackberry, HTC, etc without DRM protection.

Here we need a specific DRM Removal Software. I introduce you Wondershare Media Converter which will help you remove DRM from iTunes M4P M4A AAC music files easily.

Then, there are a few steps for you to follow now.

1. Look a the interface, click 'add' button, or double click within the 'Getting Started' area, explore the directory where your M4P, M4A, AAC music files are stored. Usually these files downloaded from iTunes are stored in *.\My Documents\My music\iTunes\iTunes Music\Downloads. If you want to add files in a batch, you can click the triangle besides the 'add' button.
2. Wondershare Media Converter contains multiple functions for customizing your output files. So the second step is to select your output formats. Just click 'Setting' button, audio for audio settings. If you want to edit them in Windows Movie Maker, I recommend you to select MP3 or WAV.
3. Well, you have almost done! The final step is to choose output directory. Please select a path which is easy to remember so you can find it. Then, just click 'Start' button. Enjoy it!

Which operating system ? Which version of Media player ?
Though designed with Windows 7 in mind, Windows Media Player 11 (WMP 11) is fully compatible with Windows XP.

The trick is knowing which version of WMP 11 to download.
Different versions of the software exist not only for Windows 7, Vista, and XP, but also for both 32-bit and 64-bit Windows XP.

Additionally, WMP 11 is only compatible with XP if it is using Service Pack 2 or Service Pack 3. Before downloading the appropriate installation file, you will need to verify which version your system requires.

Open the "Start" menu.
Open "My Computer."

Click "Help", then select "About Windows."
This will display a window with system information.

Find the listing that specifies your Service Pack. If you are operating without Service Pack 2 or 3, you will need to install one (see Resources).

Open the "Start" menu and click "Run."
Within the text field, type "winmsd.exe."

Click "OK." Select "System Summary."
Find the heading labeled "Item."

Under this heading should be the word "Processor."
The value associated with "Processor" will determine which version of Windows XP you are running.

If the value begins with "x86," you are running a 32-bit version.
If it begins with "ia64" or "AMD64," then you are running a 64-bit version.

From time to time, users run into issues trying to play audio or video files, or with an extender connected to Media Center.

Extenders are devices that allow you to "extend" the Media Center onto a TV screen or larger display.

The Xbox 360 gaming console is an example of an extender.
Launch Windows Media Center from your computer's Start menu.

Scroll down to "Music" on the Media Center home screen.
Select "Music library."

If you find an empty folder under "Music Library," navigate to the folder on your hard drive that stores your music file and add it to Media Center's library.

If the problem isn't an empty folder, look at the file extension on the music file that won't play. Media Center can't play files with unknown or incompatible extensions.

If you find a questionable extension, skip that file. Click once on another file with a different extension, one you know is compatible with Media Center, and then click "Open" to test if you can play that one.

Media Center will play MP3, CDA, WAV and other music file formats.
Open Windows Media Player from the Start menu if you receive a codec error while trying to play either audio or video files.

If you open the file in Media Player, the codec will download automatically.
You should then be able to play the file in Media Center.

Troubleshoot your firewall settings if a Media Center extender doesn't work.
You'll have a problem using an extender if Windows Firewall blocks it.

Go to "Control Panel" from the Start menu and double-click on "Windows Firewall."
Click on "Allow a program or feature through Windows Firewall."

Click to check "Media Center Extenders."
Click on "Apply."

Check external speaker cables to make sure they're connected if you can't hear any sound. Check the computer's volume settings by clicking on the "VOL+" icon at the bottom right corner of the main Media Center screen to make sure the volume is not turned off or down too low.

You may need to reconfigure your speakers if you're having volume or sound issues.
Scroll down to "Tasks" in the Media Center home screen and select "Settings."

Have had same happen. Try clicking right and choosing open with....and choose windows Media player for list. Don't know why this is the part that works for me. double clicking the file has never worked for me. I get the wmp with the same error but when I select the wmp and let IT open the file....it works....I think it is magic and a stubborn way to do this but it works

Solution:Well i could recommend another free video player instead of Windows Media Player 11. In this case, try installing Real Alternative, VLC, GoomPlayer all lf them support DVDs format.

I recommend Real Alternative over all 3 of them, to get it go here: 1) http://www.videohelp.com/tools/real_alternative and click on the "Download (mirror)".2) after download is complete start the installation make sure to UNCHECK the following checkmarks during installation: Active X, and pluggin for firefox/opera/chrome/etc. you can leave the rest of the installation as default and click next all the time.3) whenever you want to play a DVD close WMP 11 start Media Player Classic (installed during the real alternative installation, there should be a shourcut icon on your desktop for Real Player Classic now) on Media Player Classic go to File>Open DVD and you should have picture and sound.

Another extra side note of Real Alternative is that you can also play real media files (.rm, .rmvb) without having to install the nasty Real Media Player application